Excavating apparatus



Nov. 24, 1942. w. RUDDOCK 2,303,001

EXCAVATING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .v INVENTOR. M l l ramfiuddock- Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

William Ruddock, South Pasadena, Calii'., assignor or one half to Marion 1'. McCaifrey, Los

Angeles, Calif.

Application June 24, 1940, Serial No. 342,034

7 Claims. (Cl. 214-140) This invention relates to an excavating apparatus, more particularly to the type commonly referred to as bulldozers and is an improvement of my co-pending application entitled Tractor shovel. bearing Serial No. 310,940, filed December 26. 1939, now Patent No. 2,260,539, granted tober 28, 1941. g

The object of the present invention is to provide an excavating apparatus so constructed that when the dipper is filled and raised it may be held in' such position while moving the tractor to a discharge position.

Another object is to provide an excavating apparatus that may be readily operated as a bulldozer in which the tiltably mounted dipper may be adjusted and held at any desired angle when skimming over or leveling off the surface of the ground.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a power shovel equipped with the improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the dipper in lowered position. I

- Fig. 3 is'a view similar to 1 showing the dipper in elevated position.

Fig. 4 is front elevation, parts being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the dipper held in an adjusted position.

to hold the dipper in an elevated position as shown in Fig. 3, after the brake on shaft 21 has been applied in a manner hereinafter. described.

The ends of the cables 32 are connected through sockets 33 to pins 34 projecting from the arms l5, passing under pulleys and are wrapped in several coils around the pulleys 29.

Mounted on shaft 21 is a. brake II consisting of a drum 32a in which is disposed a brake band 31 operated by a hydraulic cylinder 43 mounted on a plate 35 secured to a cross rail 36 extending operated brake may be employed in lieu thereof.

Connected to a bracket or the like 44 secured to the upper edge of the dipper I8 is a hoisting cable 45 that extends therefrom over pulleys 46 and 41 and is connected to the hoisting drum 48 which is driven by a shaft 49 inter-connected with the transmission of the tractor.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of the brake that holds the boom against vertical movement at different elevations. 4

Referring more specifically to the drawings, l0 designates a caterpillar tractor comprising side frame II and treads l2.

Pivotally mounted on.

the side frame rails as indicated at i 4 are arms and horizontal portions 23 and 24 respectively as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Journalled in'bearings 2-5 and 26 formed on the upper and lower ends of the frames H are cross shafts 21 and 28 respectively, and secured to the outer ends of shaft 21 are pulleys or drums 29 and. to the outer ends of shaft 2-8 are'pulleys or drums 30 over which extend cables 32 which serve 55 The clutch controlling rotation of the hoisting Pulleys 46 and 41 are rotatably supported by standards 50 and BI secured to the cross rail 36 and floor board 41 respectively.

Rotation of the hoisting drum to raise the dip per is effected by engagement of a clutch (not shown) controlled by a foot pedal P, while the brake on the hoisting drum shaft is applied throu h a foot' pedal P. It is understood that an automatic brake employed in power shovels to hold the dipper inelevated position may be ployed if found desirable.

Pivotally connected as at 54 to ears secured to member I are links '58 having aplurality of notches 51 formed therein that are adapted to engage pins 58 projecting from the side walls of the dipper as shown in Fig. 5. These links serve to hold the dipper in adjusted position when it is desired to use the excavator as bulldozer to skim over or level the ground as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

In the operation of the apparatus after the dipper has received a loadof material it is raised from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 through the medium of the hoisting drum 48 and cable 45, at which time the clutch of the hoisting drum shaft is engaged. The brake 3| on shaft 21 and that of the hoisting drum shaft are then simultaneously applied by depressing foot pedals 42 and P.

-- downward movement, and is held in braking engagement while loading the dipper to receive another load, the operation being then repeated. While this invention has been described with ad on said frame for movement to move one end of said arm in a substantially vertical direction;

'a iw r avinga iss nsedseandmountedon said end of the arm with said edge facing away from said tractor frame, said dipper being movable with respect to said arm from material carrying to material dumping position; means exerting a force on said dipper in a direction to hold said dipper out of material dumping position and simultaneously raise-the dipper carrying end of said arm; holding means for preventing vertical particular reference to the specific form shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that such showing is for illustrative purposes only, and is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined in the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In combination with a tractor and operating means therefor, of a pair of arms pivotally secured to tractor frame, a dipper pivotally connected to said arms, a hoisting drum operable by the power mechanism of the tractor, a cable interconnected with said dipper and hoisting drum, pulley supporting frames secured to said tractor frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frames above said dipper, a second shaft rotatably mounted in the lower ends of said frames, a brake associated with one of said shafts for holding the dipper in an elevated position, pulleys secured to the outer ends of said shafts, and cables passing over said pulleys and connected v whereby when the dipper is raised by 'sa o drum and cable it will be held in elevated? position when said brake is applied. I

2. In combinationwith a tractor, a dipper sup porting arm pivotally mounted on theg-hfflctor eratively connecting said rotatable drumsfi.

brake means preventing movement of one crisis rotatable drums, whereby slackening of the hoist-' movement of said arm in either direction with respect to said tractor frame while said am is in different adiusted positions, said dipper being so mounted that relaxation of said force when said arm is held against movement permits the dipper to move to a dumping P s tion.

5. In a material handling device, the combination of a tractor having a frame; an arm mounted on said frame for movement to move one end of said arm in a substantially vertical direction; a dipper having a digging edge and mounted on said end of the arm with said edge facing away from said tractor frame, said dipper being movable with respect to said arm from material carrying to material dumping position; means exerting a force on said dipper in a direction to hold said dipper out of material dumping position and simultaneously raise the dipper carrying end of said arm; holding means including a brake for preventing vertical movement of said arm in either direction with respect to said tractor frame while said arm is in different adjusted positions, said dipper being so mounted thatrelaxation of said force when said arm is held against movement permits the dipper to move to a dumping position.

6. In a material handling device, the combination of a tractor having a frame; an arm mounted on said frame for movement to move one end of said arm in a substantially vertical direction; a dipper having a digging edge and mounted on said end of the arm with said edge facing away ing cable after application ofisaidbrake permits the dipper to pivot downwardly on the a dump the load.

frame; a dipper pivoted to the supporting arm so that its normal position is such as to dump a load; a lifting cable connected to said dipper to rotate it to load carrying position and lift said from said tractor frame, said dipper being movable with respect to said .arm from material carrying to material dumping position; means for raising and lowering the dipper carrying end of said arm; and holding means for preventing vertical movement of said arm in either direction with respect to said tractor frame while the dipper 'is in diflerent adjusted positions. I '7. In combination with a tractor, a dipper supporting'arm pivotally mounted on the tractor frame for movement to move the dipper carrying ens of said arm in a substantially vertical direc- "tion; a dipper having a digging edge, and pivoted {to the supporting arm with the digging edge facing away from said tractor frame, said dipper being mounted for movement from material carrying to material dumping position; a, lifting cable connected to said dipper and operative to arm; an endless cable running over sheaves on n hoist the dipper carrying end of said arm and simultaneously maintain the dipper out of dumping position; and means including a brake for preventing vertical movement of said arm in either direction with respect to said tractor frame when the arm is in different positions, whereby slackening of the lifting cable during application of such brake means permits the dipper to pivot downwardly on the arm to dump the load.

' WM. RUDDOCK. 

